Brake-beam



(No Model.)

W. A. PUNGS. BRAKE BEAM.

No. 401,716. Pate nted Apr. 16, 1889.

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\VILLIAM A. PUNGS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BRAKE-BEAM.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,716, dated April 16, 1889.

Application filed April 19, 1888. Serial No. 271,149- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM A. PUNGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of ayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brake-Beams; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the claims.

This invention is designed as an improve ment upon the device patented to myself and G. A. Suscmihl, No. 369,213, dated August 30, 1887. In the said device above mentioned the brake-beam was formed of sheet metal bent into the shape of a cylindrical tube, with the free edges of the metal brought outward to form a stiffening-flange.

My improvement consists, essentially, in making the said brake-beam in the form of a flattened hollow tube,the same beingof greater sectional dimensions along its middle portion than at its extremities, and in connection therewith special features of construction.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan. View of one of my brake-beams as the same would appear in use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at the middle of the said beam. Fig. A represents a variation in which the tube is presumed to be made of malleable iron with the edges of the top and bottom portions notched into each other. Fig. 5 is a cross-section at the end of the brake-beam. Fig. 6 is a variation in which the head itself is cast with a socket and fillet to receive the end of the brake-beam. Fig. 7 represents a variation of the invention.

A represents my improved brake-beam.

B represents the adjacent wheels, and C the axle of a railway-car; D, the track.

The brake-beamA is made in tubularform, substantially as shown in plan view in Fig. 1 and in sectional View in Figs. 3 and 5. This tube may be formed in any manner-that is to say, made in a single piece, or it may be made of separate top and bottom pieces. Owing to the difficulties attending its construction in a single piece, I prefer to make it of two pieces, A A each piece suitably formed to match upon the edges of the other piece. A filling-block, of wood, metal, or other material, A may be located at the middle points, and similar blocks, A, may be located at the extremities. These filling-blocks are for the purpose of receiving the strain at these points and so prevent the liability to crush the tube when in use. At the middle point is a strap, E, of any suitable form, for receiving the brakelever. This strap embraces the beam, and is riveted or bolted together at e.

F represents the brake-shoe heads, secured in any suitable manner upon the ends of the brake-beamas, for instance, by a strap, F.

The flattened form of this brake-beam at its.

extremities serves to preventany liability of the strap F from rotating upon the beam. This beam may, if desired, be made of malleable iron or other similar metal, in which event its edges may or may not be notched into each other, as shown at a in Fig. 4. The interior blocks, A and A may completely fill the tube at these points, as shown in Figs. 3, 4:, and 5; or it may be simply an interior re-enforcing of wrought or cast metal at these points, which will suffice to give sufficient strength and stiffness without departing from my invention.

The form shownin Fig. 1, where the tube is swelled both to the frontand rear, is the form which I prefer, although the tube might be straight upon either its front or rear edge and be made to swell only upon the other edge, the object being to give to the tube such larger dimensions along its middle portions as shall give to the beam at all points from end to end sufficient strength when in use.

The brake-head F may, if desired, be cast with a socket, into which the end. of the brakebeam will project, the head being provided with a fillet on the interior, into which the end of the beam projects, and which serves the purpose of a filling-block at this point. Such a variation is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A single bolt, f, may serve to hold these heads upon the beam.

In order to prevent the brake-head from rattlin g upon the end of the brake-beam,the beam may be constructed, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the parts adjacent to its end remain sprung apart and require to be sprung together before putting on the brake-head F. The end of the beam will then by its resiliency spring and so prevent any looseness of the head upon its end. The upper and lower sections, A A

of the beam may, if deemed desirable, have flanges a (L as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and these flanges may or may not have bolts or rivets a passing through them for holding or to assist in holding the parts together. These flanges are not essential, but if employed will serve to further stiffen the beam.

What I claim is 1. A brake-beam made of metal in two parts, A A said parts united by embracing-straps and having upon the interior re-enforcing blocks, said beam being in the form of a fiattened tube of greater sectional dimensions along its middle portion than at its extremities, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination, with a hollow brakebeam, of a brake-head cast with a socket and an interior fillet, into which the end of the brake-beam proj eots, and which serves the purpose of a support for the end of the brakebeam, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a hollow brakebeam, of brake-heads cast with sockets to receive the ends of the brake-beam, and with a single longitudinal bolt, f, extending from end to end of the beam, whereby said heads and beam are'fastened together, substantially as described.

4:. The combination of interiorre-enforcing blocks with a hollow brake-beam made in two parts united along the front and rear of the beam, the meeting edges of said parts being provided with flanges a (L2, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. PUNGS.

Vitnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, SAMUEL E. THOMAS. 

